Television antenna



/0 Joh/7J Wargo 5y /1/'5 U//omeys March 11, L J, WARGO TELEVISIONANTENNA Filed Nov. l, 1948 Patented Mar. 11, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE TELEVISION ANTENNA J ohn J. Wargo, Locust Valley, N. Y.

Application November 1, 1948, Serial No. 57,772

(Cl. Z50- 3351) 6 Claims.

This invention pertains to a television antenna and more particularly adirectional antenna.

It is well known that because o-f the attenuation of televisionfrequencies by the walls of buildings it is desirable, and in most casesnecessary, to install an outdoor antenna for television receivers. Ithas been estimated that 90% of the reception difficulties in televisionreceivers are due to losses and distortions occurring in the antenna andthe transmission lines from the antenna to the television set. It istherefore evident that a proper antenna installation is very importantfor the efficient functioning of the set.

One of the problems inherent in the design of such antenna installationsis how to bring in stations from all points of the compass with fullforce and clarity. Non-directional antennas are known which, because ofthe construction and arrangement of their driven and parasitic elements,receive signals from all directions. Practically speaking, however, itisusually impossible to use these non-directional antennas in areas wherethere are buildings or prominent terrain features because of so-calledghos images.

On the other hand, if a directional antenna is employed and it isoriented to receive the maximum signal from one station, it may failentirely to pick up the signal from another station.

Directional antennas have been designed which are rotatable by thereceiver operator and thus may be adjusted to receive the maximum signalfrom every station. In many cases, however, Y

these have been subject to a reception defect known as snowy screenwhich is manifested by the appearance of White spots over the surface ofthe viewing screen. They have been generally quite expensive, heavy, aptto snap 01T in a strong Wind, and diflcult to erect and repair.Moreover, they have not been adaptable to the great variety of receivingelements which are presently in use.

The present invention provides a simple, inexpensive antenna whereby anydirectional combination of driven and parasitic receiving elements maybe rotatably mounted.

It is characteristic of my novel antenna that transmission meanscarrying signals are properly. insulated from each other and from othermetallic elements and that the electric motor for rotating the antennais positioned so that the receiving elements of the antenna are outsidethe influence of its electromagnetic eld. It is further characteristicof my antenna that means are provided whereby the antenna may be foldeddown thus facilitating inspection and repair of the driven elements andtransmission means. It is also characteristic of my antenna, that noheavy elements are supported above the base, thus making for a light,wind-resistant construction.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view showing an antenna according to myinvention comprising a simple dipole and reflector.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective View partly cut away showingconstructional details of the standard used in my novel antenna;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of one of the contact discs used in the head of mynovel antenna;

Fig.` 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3 andshowing in further detail the head of the standard used in my novelantenna;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional View taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2 andshowing the relation of the socket and shaft in the standard of my novelantenna.

My antenna is shown in the drawings as used with a simple dipole I andreflector 2. These are mounted on opposite ends of a cross beam 3, whichmay be of wood or light metal. Rotatably supporting the cross beam is aninner standard 4 partly enclosed within an outer casing 5. The standardpreferably comprises a hollow tube E and a head 1, the head being xed tothe tube and the cross beam fixed to the head. The tube 6 is madefoldable by a universal joint 8 located near its lower end (Figs. 2, 5),the tube 6 being longitudinally slidable within the casing 5. Thestandard 4 is rotated through a square shaft II) tted into a squaresocket 9 in the lower end of the tube 6. For turning the shaft Il] Ihave provided an electric motor II positioned near the bottom of theantenna and away from the dipole and reflector. The motor is coupled tothe shaft through suitable gearing. I have found a convenient speed ofrotation of the antenna to be 11A; revolutions per minute. A reversingswitch Ila is provided for shutting the motor on and off and forchanging the direction of rotation of the motor, and thus of thestandard and antenna.

rIhe arrangement of the standard 4 and the casing 5 is such that thestandard may be rotated within the casing. The casing 5 is made foldablewith the standard 6 through the provision of a circular hinge I2 and acover plate I3 in the casing at the level of the universal joint 8 inthe tube 6. The cover plate I3 is attached by short screws I4.

The head l at the top of the standard 4 comprises two contact discs I5,I6 and a cap I'I (Fig. 4). The discs (Fig. 3) are of metal, preferablyof copper. They may be provided with holes I8 for screw fastening means.Separating the contact discs are insulating discs I9 and 20 of adielectric material, preferably a methyl methacrylate plastic. The capI'I, which is preferably of metal, is shaped to provide a bearingsurface for the upper edge of the casing 5.

From the arms of the dipole two connecting wires 2l and 22 run to thediscs I5 and I6, respectively.

Brushes 23 and 24 are mounted on the casing 5 and contact the discs I5and IE. Transmission lines, which may be wires 25 and 2S run frombrushes 23, 24 to the television set (not shown).

The wires 25, 26 are carefully spaced from the casing 5 by insulators21.

The operation of my antenna is as follows: The observer, having set hischannel selector to a desired frequency, operates the reversing switchIla. The motor II rotates the standard 4 slowly and thereby the dipoleand reflector. The signal from the station is received on the dipole I,passes through the connecting wires 2 I, 22 to the contact discs I5, I6.Thence it is removed via the brushes 23, 24 and passed along thetransmission wires 25, 28 to the television set. The operator observestheY image on his screen and when a satisfactory image is obtained,shuts off the motor by the reversing switch IIa. If, in searching for asatisfactory image, the operator allows the antenna to rotate past thatposition where the best possible image is obtained, by means of thereversing switch he may rotate the antenna in the opposite direction,thus returning to the optimum position. This reversing may be repeatedseveral times and a bracketing procedure followed for obtaining the bestantenna setting. When such setting is obtained the reversing switch ismanipulated to shut the motor off and stop the rotation of the antenna.By such methods it is possible with my novel antenna to enjoy the fullstrength of all transmitting stations and at the same time avoid theannoyance of ghosts on the television screen.

The present construction, as well as eliminating ghosts substantiallycorrects the snowy screen defect to which many television antennas aresubject. I have discovered that the novel combination of contact discsseparated from one another by insulating discs, the spacing maintainedbetween the transmission wires and the outer casing, and the location ofthe receiving elements outside the electromagnetic eld of the motorresult in a television screen free from the annoying snow effectreferred to. While I do not know the fundamental reasons behind thisimprovement, I believe it is due in part to a jump or capacitive effectprovided by the novel construction of the head of my standard.

Although the head of the standard as described above is of simple andsturdy design, it may sometimes become desirable to make minoradjustments on the brushes and clean or replace the contact discs. Whensuch repairs become necessary it is a simple matter to remove the coverplate I3 from the outer casing and fold the standard and casing over,thus providing easy access to the head of the standard and to the drivenand parasitic receiving elements.

As have already stated, many types of directional driven and parasiticelements may be used with my novel mounting. As well as the simpledipole here illustrated, folded dipoles, V-antennas, H-antennas, di-fanantennas and many others may be used on my novel mounting with goodresults.

While the preferred embodiment described above and shown in the drawingsincludes an electric motor for rotating the standard, within the scopeof my invention are included antennas having other means for rotation,such, for example, as hand cranks.

What I claim is:

1. A television antenna comprising a directional receiving element andsupporting means including a stationary outer casing, a foldable innerstandard of substantially the same length as said outer casing, fixed tosaid receiving element and rotatable within said outer casing saidstandard having a joint and said outer casing being hinged at acorresponding point whereby said standard and said casing may be foldedover and electrical means for rotating the standard; in combination withtransmission means comprising conductive discs fixed on the standard,insulating discs xed on the standard, brushes fixed on the outer casingand contacting said conductive discs, and leads connecting saidreceiving element and said conductive discs, said insulating discs beinginterposed between and separating the conductive discs from one another,whereby a snowy screen is eliminated.

2. A television antenna as set forth in claim 1 wherein saidtransmission means includes transmission wires leading away from saidconductive discs, said wires being carried by the outer casing, butbeing kept isolated from the casing.

3. A television antenna as in claim l and having a reversing switchwhereby the direction of rotation of said receiving element may bechanged.

4. A television antenna as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rotationalmeans comprise an electric motor coupled to the end of said standardopposite to the end whereto said receiving element is fixed.

5. A television antenna comprising a directional receiving element,transmission means for conducting a signal from the receiving elementand supporting means comprising an outer fixed casing, an inner standardof substantially the same length as said outer casing, fixed to thereceiving element and rotatable within the outer casing, and means forrotating' the standard, said standard having a joint at a point near itsbase and said outer casing having a hinge at a corresponding pointwhereby said standard and said outer casing may be folded over tofacilitate inspection and repair of the antenna.

6. A television antenna comprising a directional receiving element andsupporting means including an outer fixed casing, an inner standard ofsubstantially the same length as said outer casing, fixed to thereceiving element and rotatable within the outer casing and means forrotating the inner standard, said standard ha-ving a joint at a pointnear its base and said casing having a hinge at a corresponding pointwhereby said standard and said outer casing may be folded over tofacilitate inspection and repair; in combination "with transmissionmeans comprising conductive discs fixed on the standard, insulatingdiscs fixed on the standard, said insulating discs being interposedbetween and separating the conductive discs from each other, brushesfixed on the outer tube and contacting the conductive discs, leadsconnecting the receiving element and the conductive discs, andtransmission wires leading away from said brushes, said wires beingcarried by said outer casing, but isolated therefrom.

JOHN J WARGO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,569,745 Hand Jan. 12, 19462,094,475 Schwarzhaupt Sept. 28, 1937 2,100,058 McGrady Nov. 23, 19372,268,640 Brown Jan. 6, 1942 2,410,917 Yuan Nov. 12, 1946

